There are many cases where you won't want to pay for a whole year's car insurance. It could be, for instance, that your kid gets back from college for the winter holidays and wants to take dad's car for a spin. Or you have a family van that you only drive in the summer, when you are all heading out for the beach.
Insurance providers understand that customers have varied coverage needs, and most companies also offer insurance for very limited periods of time. Such packages sometimes go by the name of weekly car insurance policies. This article will guide you towards getting the best insurance rates.
Driving without adequate coverage is a criminal offense in most states, and can result in suspension of your driving privileges, consistent fines and even jail time. The consequences are even harsher if you get involved in a car accident.
You may have a hard time getting short-term insurance if you have filed more than a handful of claims in the last year, or have many demerit points on your record. The insurers don't like to take a lot of chances for the sake of a few dollars they are going to get from you, so you may be denied or asked to buy coverage for a longer period of time.
Rather than buying an individual policy for a couple of days, you may want to add that driver on your main policy if you believe that he or she might use your car again in future. Ask your current insurance carrier about deferred driver packages, because this is usually a cheaper alternative.
If your kid is going to be in town for ten days, then buy insurance for that exact period of time. On the other hand, if he might stay a few days longer, then it is advisable to pay for that few more days, because it will be cheaper than contracting a new short-term policy afterwards.
Extra packages like roadside assistance or car rental reimbursement are in the range of $10 to $20 for weekly policies. Consider getting such coverage as well, because for the price of a few burgers you will sleep better at night knowing that your car is better protected.